President's Message
Shubho Nababarsho. First of all I would like to thank you all for a very successful Saraswati Puja. As our first event, it set the tone for the year to come.
Banga Sanskriti Dibas will be held on April 20 at Elgin High School. This program is a celebration of Bengali culture. Furthermore, it will include forums for both adults and youth; it is an opportunity for each individual’s voice to be heard. In the upcoming months we have not only one, but two spectacular productions from India. Prepared to be dazzled by the talents of Srikanta Acharya on May 19 and a drama group featuring Biplab Chatterjee, Indrani Haldar and Sabyasachi Chakraborty on July 20. I hope to see a large turnout from the Bengali community so that we can continue to have artists of this caliber come to Chicago.
I hope to see you at Banga Sanskriti Dibas.
21st February 2002: the brave fighter Partho Sen left this world of pain and suffering to journey to a world of eternal light, leaving behind him his parents Prabir and Rajashree Sen, and all his friends and relatives in dark void. As you all know, he had been fighting leukemia for last several months. On 23rd February, at a poignant ceremony of his last rites at Skokie’s Bohemian Church, hundreds of friends and relatives, (several of whom were from BAGC) stood in shocked and tearful silence as verses from the Gita, Quran, Bible and other religious scriptures were recited and the poignant notes of “Tomar moha bishwe prabu harai nako kichhu”, rendered by Anjali Bhattacharya filled the church with pathos. And while hundreds of mourners in tearful eyes filed past Partho lying there, offering their condolences to Partho’s parents, Prabir and Rajashree Sen accepted these with remarkable calm and courage.
Saraswati Puja, coming in the aftermath of Partho’s departure, had ceremonies scaled down, and the mood was sombre. The children’s multi-regional dance program was very well done and appreciated by the audience. The excellent slide show on Partho’s life prepared by his friends, with the background song of Tagore’s ‘Dhay jano mor shokol bhalobasha’ (All my love flows towards Thee) sung by Anajali Bhattacharya moistened the audiences eyes, as they nostalgically time-traveled to see Partho in his blissful earlier years. No, we were wrong earlier. Partho, you are not gone. You live amongst us still, in the smiles of the children who play in the parks, in the spirit of the youth endeavoring to realize their dreams, in the selfless efforts of the entrepreneurs striving to make this world a better place to live in. And to you, Partho, we from BAGC, dedicate this issue of Samaj Sangbad.
Remembering Sanjay SenDear Partho,
Well, I don’t even know where I should start.
When my parents asked me if I wanted to write
something about you in the BAGC newsletter, I
knew I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure where to
start. But I decided to go with my feelings and
say good-bye to you in my own way.
Partho, I miss you so much. You were truly like an older brother to me. You taught me so much about life that I didn’t even realize it, until now, now that you’re gone. You taught me to see the lighter side of things and laugh about it. That’s what I’ll remember most about you, always laughing and joking. But I also unconsciously learned something else from you. From the time you were diagnosed with cancer, you remained so strong and positive. You fought this with everything in you and I’ll always remember and admire you for that.
I want to make you a promise, Partho. You didn’t have the opportunity to experience a lot in your life, but as I go through the stages in my life, I’m going to carry you with me in my heart. You leaving us has shown me that life needs to be lived to the fullest every day because none of us really know when it’ll be time for us to move on. So I’m going to do that, enjoy life and live every day as if it may be my last on this earth. I promise you that, Partho. You are one of the most special people I’ll ever know. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Love,
Tuli
(Antara Deb)
P.S. And don’t worry, I didn’t forget that you bought our last dinner, I know, I still owe you one!
BANGA BHAVAN: FROM DREAMS TO REALITYOver years the ‘Banga Bhavan’ concept has been a dream, an ‘Apple of Discord’, a goal to achieve and yet a challenge to members of the BAGC; a challenge in terms of not only the funding to build, but also the funding to maintain. The BAGC special fund is only a modest sum compared to what will be needed to buy or construct it. But think of the how tremendously the community will benefit from it. From a meeting place and a clubhouse, a storage godown, a rehearsal venue, a Guest House for invited artistes, to a venue for BAGC Pujas and socio-cultural functions, its potentials are tremendous.
A committee has been formed under the stewardship of Dr. Manatosh Banerji to come up with a feasible blueprint for ‘realizing’ the dream. The group will be discussing their ideas and recommendations in a forum to be organized at the Banga Sanskriti Dibas on 20th April for the general members of BAGC. This was initially planned for Saraswati Puja, but due to the intervening tragedy, the event was postponed. Here Dr. Banerji shares the group’s thoughts as a preamble…
At the last AGM during Kali Puja, an assignment was given to me by BAGC: to revisit the issue of a permanent BAGC building/Kali-Durga Bari., the naming of a committee for this purpose, and to provide an interim report at Saraswati Puja 2002. After two brainstorming sessions we have come up with the following options. (To buy rather than leasing is preferable).
Option I: A Clubhouse with Storage This is to have a store-house for BAGC property, lending library, indoor sports (bridge, carrom, table-tennis, and such) and room enough for small gatherings of up to 150 persons. A larger space will be needed if a concept of round the year Durga/Kali Bari is added. Space Requirement: 3000-4000 Sq. Ft. Cost: $400-500,000 (If leased $36,000 per year).
Option II: Above Option Plus Venue for BAGC’s Smaller Functions This will require larger halls for both Puja and performance/eating/gathering spaces. This will also require a larger parking area. Space Requirement: 10,000 Sq. Ft. Cost: $1.25 million dollars (Lease $80,000 per year).
Option III: Work in Progress This option will require acquisition of land in a geographically central/economical area of Chicagoland. It may have to be, because of tax reasons, in an unincorporated community. After such an acquisition, we will start an option-II type place and build added space as needed. This gives us the option to develop according to changes in the needs of BAGC, both to upscale the dream (e.g. complete all phases or stop the plan and move elsewhere better) or downscale the dream (e.g. sell the property and do something smaller elsewhere). Space Requirement: 5+ acres of land and construction of 10,000 Sq. Ft. Bldg Cost: $1.0 million dollars for the land and $500,000 for first phase of bldg construction.
Whichever option(s) we consider in whatever form, funding will be critical. In order to fund these projects we need to make certain assumptions and have a better understanding of certain issues on which our group will elaborate at the forum to be organized at the next BAGC function, namely the Banga Sanskriti Dibas. We will also discuss funding alternatives and the experience we can gain from other communities (like the Bengali Association at Houston) who have been successful in constructing a building of their own.
Assuming that the sentiments of the general body are positive for continuing this project, will the work on this project continue and further course of action taken. We hope to accomplish the following at the meeting: 1. Narrow the scope of the project by selecting two of the three options presented above. 2. Present a committee of people who are supportive of this building venture.
LETTER TO EDITOR
LETTER TO EDITOR
I was deeply impressed by the way our second
generation leaders of the community
conducted themselves during Saraswati Puja.
Being their first major community event it had
been planned with lot of energy and effort.
However it coincided with a tragedy the likes of
which this community has not seen before. In
fact most of the young leaders were personally
affected by the traumatic turn of events. In
spite of it the maturity, courage and efficiency
with which they conducted themselves and
supervised the events was spectacular. Also I
couldn’t help appreciating repeated references
to guidance from experienced members of the
community by the youthful leaders. This
acceptance and gathering of knowledge from
previous generations, coupled with the second
generation’s own focus and extended outlook
heralds that BAGC too has come of age. The
evening’s cultural program emphasized
Tagore’s words, “Dibe aar nibe, milabe, milibe
...”. As I watched how our second generation
leaders added edge to experience, precision
and purpose to heritage, it seemed to me that
the process has already begun.
- Indrani Mondal
BIRTH
Congratulations to Rahul Chatterjea and
Sharmistha Bose, on the birth of their son,
Naveen Alok born on March 26, 2002.
30th Anniversary
Congratulations to Bhaskar and Ratna
Bandyopadhyay on their 30 th Wedding
Anniversary, March, 2002. The very best
wishes for their lives together.
ACHIEVEMENT
Tanya Mookerji, a fourth grader, won the
Spelling Bee of the Hough Street School of
Barrington, Illinois.
CONGRATULATIONS
Subrata K. Chakrabarti, president, Offshore
Structure Analysis Inc., Plainfield, IL has been
elected in March 2002 to member of National
Academy of Engineering in the U.S. He has
been honored for his major contributions to the
field of hydrodynamics and fluid structure
interaction in the design of harbor, coastal, and
offshore structures.
Election to the National Academy of
Engineering is one of the highest professional
distinctions that can be accorded an engineer.
Academy membership honors those who have
made "important contributions to engineering
theory and practice" and those who have
demonstrated "unusual accomplishment in the
pioneering of new and developing fields of
technology."
Mr. Chakrabarti has authored three books -
Hydrodynamics of Offshore Structures,
Nonlinear Methods in Offshore Engineering and
Offshore Structure Modeling and recently
completed his fourth textbook - Theory and
Practice of Hydrodynamics and Vibration,
which will be published in this the summer.
BEST WISHES
"Alibaba Panchali" which entertained hundreds
of spectators at BAGC's Durga Puja last year,
is going places! Across Lake Michigan on 13th
April, to perform at Nabo Barsho function of
Bichitra, the Bengali Association of Greater
Detroit. Keep the BAGC flag flying, Subhash,
Kumkum and team!
Bengal’s rich cultural tapestry is stitched in
multiple hues and fabrics over the last few
centuries. Indeed the Banga Sanskriti Dibas is
just a minuscule pageant, a small token of
reverence and remembrance of the great
cultural heritage of our roots: Banga-bhumi.
Nevertheless, this year in the Banga Sanskriti
Dibas, the pageant will cover a wide canvas.
Jaya Bannerjee and her choir of 15 will offer us
a choral bouquet, composed of rhythmic songs
from Nazrul, Tagore and Salil Chowdhury, sung
in harmony with background orchestra. There
will be poetry from Tagore recited by children
paralleled with a Western adaptation and
dramatic personification: a presentation that
will bridge two cultures. And also Tagore’s
famous ‘Karna-Kunti Sangbad’ by two great
performers, whose names we withhold as a
surprise for you. Another event that will be
display the East-West cultural synthesis is
Debashish Guptoo’s orchestra with a mix of
youth and adults treating us to Indian Ragas.
And finally ‘Nrityarghya’, a great dance
presentation from a Canada-based troupe.
Those that have seen Sukalyan’s group
performing before, know the quality of their
performance. All in all, we have an evening of
lovely entertainment coming up, which we feel
excited about.
That’s not all! Preceding the ‘Cultural Show’ at
the Banga Sanskriti Dibas will be a discussion
‘Forum’ for adults and one for youth. In the
adults forum, Dr. Manatosh Banerji, and others
active on the Banga Bhavan project, will
discuss the potentials, possibilities and paths
of realization for the Bongo Bhavan for BAGC.
There will also be a career guidance
discussion by Anindita Mukherjee.
If you like what you see at the Banga Sanskriti
Dibas you have only seen the tip of the
iceberg. Coming up on May 19th is ‘Srikanta
Sandhya’, an evening of soulful serenades from
Srikanta Acharya, the famous Bengali singer.
Following this on July 20th will be
‘X-travagenza 2002’ presented by a Calcutta
group, comprising of a package: a drama
‘Swarna Villa’, a mini-comedy ‘Borishaler Bor,
Kolkata’r Kone’ and ‘Indipop’ or popular Bengali
songs from Mou Mukherjee popularly known as
‘Miss Jojo’! All these will be ‘special events’
hosted by BAGC. So mark your calendars and
buy your tickets before they get sold out and
you have to stand outside the hall in the hopes
of a dropout audience! There may still be
another ‘special event’ in August but we are
keeping that a secret for now…… We are all
set for a great entertaining year!!
Genetic engineering, or “genetics”, has become a buzzword these days. You see it in big bold letters on magazine headlines, you see it flash across the TV screen, and you hear it in talk shows, school discussions, and cocktail parties. As a senior in high, I was introduced to the concept in my Biology class and have developed a keen interest in the subject. So when the editors of Samaj Sangbad asked me to interview BAGC member Ananda M. Chakrabarty, a pioneer in the field of genetic engineering, I was rather excited. And so I found myself sitting in the formal living room of the Chakrabarty residence on a Sunday morning facing this unassuming person, trim and fit despite his years, with a warm smile and a youthful twinkle in his eyes.
Nobody can be further different than the traditional stereotype of the absent-minded scientist researching cooped up in his laboratory. Ananda-mesho greeted me with a smile and quickly made me feel comfortable. I found it hard to believe that I was actually interviewing a world-famous scientist.
Dr. Ananda M. Chakrabarty is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Renowned in the worldwide scientific community, he has contributed immensely to the field of genetics. Internationally recognized for conducting the first genetic experiment patent on a life form, he devised a method through genetic engineering to prevent oil spills from invading our water systems by developing a microorganism that breaks down the oil and is a method of oil cleanup.
Despite the rapid advances being made in the science of genetic engineering, most Americans have a hazy idea of the basics of genetic engineering. “Genetic engineering is the introduction of genes from one organism to another. For example from humans to bacteria, where a certain gene can help an organism,” explained Dr. Chakrabarty. “When we think of genetics we only think of the human aspects of genetic engineering, but we forget about the way genetic engineering is used in plants and other living organisms,” he emphasized. Dr. Chakrabarty used the same science when he worked for GE Electric (New York) where designed the microorganism of bacteria which was genetically improved to break down oil.
After the experiment resulted in success, GE tried to put ownership on the material so that it would not be used for commercial purposes. “We patent life forms to prevent others from selling it commercially as a product. To have something patented, one must fulfill the fundamental properties. It must be of utility, non obvious, unnatural, and have a written out detailed procedure explanation,” says Dr. Chakrabarty.
Though getting a life form patented might sound simple, it is not exactly a piece of cake. Various complications can arise since this is still a field of study that is changing and building up and questions like the difference between nonliving and living organisms are being asked again and again.
When we hear about genetic engineering we mostly think about making human clones and many persons consider this to be unethical. Yet Dr. Chakrabarty emphasized that mankind can reap fabulous rewards from genetic engineering. For example, people suffering from diabetes can benefit from genetic engineering because this process will provide insulin-secreting cells. “Just by introducing the stem cells, we don’t need to supply insulin to the patient anymore,” explained Dr. Chakrabarty.
Religious people might argue that this method is unethical, but in reality they fail to understand the difference therapeutic cloning (tissues) and implant cloning (making a human baby). While ethical issues may be raised with regard to implant cloning, therapeutic cloning may not involve the same degree of ethical questions. From growing arms and limbs to controlling pollution of pesticides, genetic engineering can lead to a bright future.
In addition, Dr. Chakrabarty feels that judges need to have a more in-depth understanding of science because judges often don’t really know the biological and chemical processes involved in genetically engineered products. “Another posing problem is the globalization where some countries have different rules for receiving a patent. For example, European nations will not accept human embryonic cell since it has human cells which is against their morality,” says Dr. Chakrabarty.
To help the scientific, legal and political communities to resolve some of these tricky issues, Dr. Chakrabarty will be attending meetings in Rome with scientists around the world. In addition, he is initiating the STRC (Science Technology Reference Code) which is designed to help discussions between judges and scientists.
As I got into the car and waved goodbye to Dr. Chakrabarty, I recognized that his outstanding trait is his down-to-earth and unassuming personality. I mean how many a world famous scientists would care to invite a high school kid to his house and grant him an interview? I may not have learned all about genetic engineering from the couple of hours I spent with Ananda-mesho that day, but I did get an impressive lesson in how to interact with people. And of course, I had a good time munching the delectable snacks that Krishna-mashi had served.
Nasi Goreng, meaning fried rice, is Indonesia’s most popular dish, enjoyed by everyone, from the poor to the rich.
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked rice- long grain or basmati
1 piece boneless chicken breast
1-cup small shrimp – shelled & deveined
1 medium onion (cut into medium size pieces)
3 cloves of garlic
2 tomatoes (cut into medium size pieces)
1-cup bean sprout (washed)
1 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 tsp chili paste
1 tsp salt
2-cups scrambled eggs
½ cup oil
Garnish
1 egg
2 cucumbers
2 tomatoes
Method
Cook the rice. Set it aside until cold. You may
use rice cooked the previous day. Cut chicken
into small pieces. On low heat, cook chicken
in 1 tbsp of oil until done (approx. 10 minutes).
Set aside. In a blender, puree onion, tomatoes
and garlic cloves.
Heat rest of oil in a wok or deep frying pan.
When oil is hot, add onion, tomato & garlic
mixture, chili paste and salt. Stir over low heat
until spices and oil separate. Add chicken and
shrimp. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Add bean
sprouts and stir for 30 seconds. Gradually add
rice while stirring. Mix well. Add scrambled
eggs and stir.
To garnish the dish, fry one egg sunny side up.
Slice cucumber and tomatoes. Put the rice on
a serving plate. Then arrange the sliced
cucumbers and tomatoes around the rice.
Place the egg on top. Now the Nasi Goreng is
ready to be served. Enjoy!
I don’t remember when I first met Partho. I just know that we’ve been friends as long as I can remember. He was my first and oldest friend. One of my earliest memories is of the two of us standing against the wall in the lunch line at Ray Elementary School - we must have been about seven years old. Even though we were in different classes, we always stuck together during lunch and playtime. Kids will always be kids, but even as a child, I cannot remember a single instance when Partho hurt someone else’s feelings.
As we got older and our lives took us in different directions, we remained friends through the years. Partho was a fun-loving, kind, and generous individual. He was always kidding around and could make anyone smile. He was a dear friend to many, and his kindness touched all who knew him. His many friends and their love for him are a testament to his big heart and the quality of his friendship.
Partho did not let his illness or anything else stop him from living his life. Although he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia just a few short months before graduating from college, he was determined to complete his degree. He returned to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign a year later to complete his remaining semester of college and obtain his bachelors degree. He subsequently enrolled at Kent College of Law to pursue his dreams of becoming a lawyer, but unfortunately he was never given the chance to realize those dreams.
However, his dream that one day people would no longer die for lack of a suitable bone marrow donor may yet become a reality. He asked a friend of his to videotape his entire ordeal with leukemia. Together, they captured over 60 hours of footage detailing every aspect of his treatment and experience. It was his hope that this footage could be used to educate people about leukemia and emphasize the importance of the bone marrow donor registry. The best chance of finding a bone marrow match is within one’s own ethnic community, and to date, the South Asian community is tragically under-represented in the bone marrow donor pool. I sincerely hope that Partho’s mission of educating people about bone marrow registration will continue to grow and one day become part of his legacy.
The most remarkable thing about Partho was his incredibly positive attitude towards life. Partho was one of the bravest people I have known. The courage with which he faced life gives the rest of us strength to cope. He never gave up on life. He played the hand that life had dealt him to the best of his abilities. He will be missed dearly by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Sunday, 2:30 PM
- OK, So what are we cooking today?
- Pork. Yuck! I hope they remembered to thaw
out the frozen slabs this time!
- Oh,no! I hate to cook pork. Why can't we
cook something we like, like chicken curry?
Better yet, why can't we cook vegetarian?
- Don't mention the V-word! makkelra chotbe.
Last month P. told everybody that we were
cooking vegetable soup and there was nearly a
riot! They don't understand that a vegetarian
meal can be nutritious!
- They don't care about nutrition here. We don't
need to worry about too much salt or
cholesterol. U.I.C. te ja sikhechhile sob bhule
jao.
- OK, let's concentrate on the menu! Here is
the pork, hard as rock! ki baje gandho
chharchhe! I will have to heat it on the range.
The pilot light is off again! Who's got the
matches?
- Me. I have them.
- So, You are smoking again. I thought you
quit.
- So I did - ten times last week. This
can-opener does not work. Why are we using
canned vegetables anyway? They will ruin the
fantastic hash I am cooking.
- Well, somebody has to use up the donated
items. I think somebody in our group donated
these particular cans. If we don't use them up,
who will? No one else knows what to do with
them.
- These onions are making me cry! I have
plenty of other reasons to cry. I don't need this!
- You should be happy you are not cutting this
big watermelon. I have to practically sit on the
knife to get it to cut anything.
- You brought the watermelon. You should have
brought the knife!
- One, two, three, four ... Don't talk to me when
I am adding water to this rice. I forgot how
many cups I added.
- Oh! no #$&*@# ... I spilled all this jello on the
floor! Now we have a sweet sticky floor and no
dessert!
- Don't worry! We will help you clean up. Hey,
who's making the coffee? I will die if I don't have
some coffee soon.
- I thought you were here to serve. Now we
have to serve you!
- Let's check the pork casserole and the rice in
the oven. Easy! It's heavy. The meat looks raw
and the rice is too dry.
- It's four o'clock. We still have an hour.
- No, we don't. Don't look at the clock on the
wall. It's broken. We have half an hour. But I
know everything will be done at mealtime. We
will make it! We always do. This is why I love
coming here. It is so exciting! It's always touch
and go!
- I want a taste of this rice. It needs salt. You
should have cried some more!
- You always say that. buro nun-ta ektu beshi
khay! This is Indian rice. It is called BIRIYANI.
It is supposed to taste like this.
- Uh-huh ... Guess who is here. The
dishwasher. We should clear out of here. er
abar mejajta ektu chara! Let's go serve.
- Man, this is good food! I wish I had teeth, so I
didn't have to slush it in!
- Ya, I knew it would be good, soon as I seen
that Indian dude and his gang. The women,
they dress a little funny, but they sure cook
good!
- jak, khatnita sarthok holo!
Spring may still be a few weeks away, and the tulips may not have started blossoming as yet. But it is time to shake your limbs and lose those unwanted calories that have found their home inside your bodies. All those pastries during Christmas that have made the weighing machine screech and scream whenever you step on it now need to be burned. Yes, you guessed it right – it is time to start our sporting activities.
Hi, I am the new Sports Coordinator for BAGC for 2002. This article in the BAGC newsletter is a new column dedicated to sports only. It was probably high time that we had something like this in our newsletter, and I thank all the committee members and the newsletter editors for their support and positive attitude towards this. With all your help and support, I do hope to create some fun and excitement among our members during this year.
Football (soccer, I mean) and cricket and other real fat burners will still have to wait until the mercury goes further up, but why not start with something that we can do without the elements affecting us? Indoor games are the order of the day. And we have lined up one for you in the weeks to come: the Carrom competition. Ok, Ok, this will not really make you burn a lot of fat, but it is a start though. And oh, did I mention that we will be having very very attractive prizes for all the winners this time? Not only the trophies that you will win, but also other prizes that will please you immensely. And of course, there will be ample snacks and drinks during the tournament for everyone.
Even at the risk being repetitive, I once again urge you to wholeheartedly participate in the events and tournaments. It really does not matter whether you are good at that game or not, the sheer enthusiasm that you can brew will offset any lack of talent that you may have! And that is what community sporting events are all about. So, send me your entries the moment you read this. I will be waiting to hear from you.
My focus is very much on encouraging the ladies to participate in the events. And it will remain so throughout the year. We want the whole family to get engrossed in a sporting event, just as they do during the Pujas or other cultural events.
The gleaming birds took off in flight
Soaring like two mighty kites.
That morning when the sun shone bright
And the world seemed to be all right.v
On the chessboard down below
The King and Queen bestrode aglow
Shimmering in the sunshine bright
When the world seemed all right.
Suspecting no fearful quirk
The people bustled off to work,
Happy that the sun shone bright,
Happy that the world seemed right.
Alas who knew what held await
Such unimagined terrible fate.
For though the sun shone cheerful bright
Everything was not all right.
For terror stalked the birds that day
And lured them from their destined way
Who could withstand such baleful blight
Suddenly it was dark as night !
Oh what a thunderous thudding din
As they crashed into the towers twin.
And all the world just burst aflame
Like some surreal video game !
Such valor, such courage was seen that day
Never witnessed before in any way
Fighting the darkness of the night
Firemen shone like beacons of light!
For though now only rubble cools
Where once the mighty towers ruled
We all know that soon some day
The Phoenix shall rise from ashes gray.
Why do we make the choices we make? Is it
because of peer pressure, Or some little voice
in our head telling us what to do? Bad choices,
good choices, Are they really the best we
could have done? For example, the terrorists
on September 11 hated Americans so much
that they decided to crash two planes into the
World Trade Center. That one choice which led
to a disaster affected millions of people in
America and around the world.
There was a story about a girl who lied to her
parents and went to a party when she wasn’t
supposed to. Her friend who was driving her
home was very drunk. The girl ended up in a
car crash with another car. At the hospital, on
her deathbed, she said to the nurse, “What
happened to my friend?” “All the people in the
car crash have passed away, and I’m afraid
we’re going to lose you too.” “I hope God
forgives me for the bad choice that I made.
Nurse, will you tell my parents that I’m really
sorry about lying to them and causing the
deaths of the other people who I didn’t even
know. Will you …” Then she died. A woman
came up to the nurse and asked, “Why didn’t
you give the girl her last wish?” “Because the
people in the other car were her parents.”
Why do we make the choices we make?
Did I grow out of it
Like an old shirt?
Did it shrivel up
Like salt on a snail?
Am I working so hard
That I just can't sleep?
Maybe my dreams are deferred.
Whatever happened to going to bed at 9:00?
Maybe it's too old for me.
From: The Teacher's Selection Anthology of
Poetry - 2001 Edition/ Volume XXI
page: 45
Bakul Banerjee “It is certainly a perfect March morning to play outside with Mike”, Deb thought irritably. This car trip was about a visit to someone called “the taxman”. Suddenly, his mother observed, “Do you know that the Poyla Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, falls on April 15 this year? It is almost a year since I visited India! In US., we will close our annual money business on April 15. In India, they will open new accounting books on the same day.” “Aha! This trip to the taxman will not be that bad after all!” Deb felt much better. During his last trip to India, Dadu, his grandfather, took him to his favorite bookstore on Poyla Baishakh. The store was decorated with mango leaves, flowers and red powder. Everyone in the store was very happy to see them. After Puja, they were treated with several sweets and Fanta. Dadu bought Deb several coloring books. The storeowner, Akhilkaku, wrote down the prices on a new decorated notebook. As his father pulled into the parking spot in front of the taxman’s office, Deb rushed inside. However, he could not find any sweets or affectionate words. “The money day in India is definitely much better than the money day in US!” Deb was very sad!
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^We welcome your letters. But anonymous letters will not be considered. We reserve the right to reject or edit letters for brevity, clarity and libelous or slanderous statements. Attacks on individuals will not be entertained.